Social Organization and Aggression Problems in Horses

Question 1

describe a herd

Answer 1

1. affiliated group in large geographical area with overlapping home ranges
2. half female, half male
3. territory: geographic area actively defended against non-group members
   -horses are not territorial, but DONKEYS ARE

Question 2

describe harem (natal) bands

Answer 2

1. stable group of 3 or more adult horses
2. 4-20 horses, only 1-2 stallion
3. 3-8 mares on average
4. offspring up to 2 years old

Question 3

describe bachelor groups

Answer 3

1. 2-8 stallions
2. membership is fluid
   -up to 5-6 years old
   -prior to establishing own bands

Question 4

what is the big difference between wild horses and horses in captivity?

Answer 4

in the wild horses are never in isolation!!

in captivity we stick them in stalls

Question 5

describe agonistic behaviors of horses

Answer 5

offensive threats:
-stare, bite threats, ears back, arched neck, head movement toward head, neck, or shoulder, chasing
-rearing, kicking, biting, boxing, circling, mounting, overmarking

submission:
-lowering head, ears, hindquarters, jaw chomping, defensive kicks, flight or running away
-balking: turning head away, leaning away
-subordinate stallions have shorter squeals that begin at lower frequency and stallions tend to challenge based on sound of squeal

Question 6

describe intraspecies aggression in horses

Answer 6

most aggression consists of threats (66-80%) within a stable social group
-bite or bite threat
-head bump
-kick or kick threat

Question 7

describe domestic horse management

Answer 7

1. geldings:
   -bachelor groups
   -lack of cohesion with mares
2. social isolation:
   -distress calls
   -increased agitation
3. movement of individuals:
   -constant introduction of newcomers
4. stallions separated from mares

Question 8

describe how horses respond to social isolation

Answer 8

1. isolated horses compared to horses with auditory, visual, or tactile contact with other horses
   -spend 10% less time eating
   -three times more active
2. physiologic stress reactions increase with time spent in isolation

Question 9

what results in serious injuries due to intraspecies aggression in horses in captivity?

Answer 9

1. lack of socialization:
   -foals raised in isolation
2. changes in housing management
3. breed differences:
   -risk of injuries 4x higher in TB, arabs, WBs

Question 10

describe management strategies to improve safety

Answer 10

1. paddocks:
   -rounded corners
   -structures for visual screening
2. place water and feeding stations away from corners: avoid close proximity of horses
3. wire partitions along feeding trough

Question 11

describe prevention of intraspecies aggression

Answer 11

1. larger spaces
2. provide forage
3. smaller groups
4. minimize new introductions
5. gradual introductions
6. caution:
   -estrus mares
   -mares with foals

Question 12

describe intra species aggression classification

Answer 12

1. dominance or status related: not as common
2. intermale: more common
3. pain-elicited
4. instrumental (learned)
5. medical causes
6. irritable
7. play aggression
8. protection of food, foal, or self
   -resource guarding
   -maternal aggression
   -fear-induced
9. redirected aggression

Question 13

describe intermale aggression in the wild

Answer 13

1. harem stallions from neighboring bands
   -not related to territory or presence of mares or foals
2. ritualized signaling: stare, defecation, olfactory investigations, squeals, treats, biting, kicking

Question 14

how to control intermale aggression

Answer 14

1. castration prior to onset of aggression is 70-80% successful
2. castration after onset of aggression is 40% successful

Question 15

describe irritable aggression

Answer 15

1. associated with physical or mental discomfort
2. difficulty training
3. hyperexcitability
4. kicking, squealing, tail swishing
5. frequent urination
6. investigate for sources of discomfort:
   -lameness exam
   -dental exam
   -urinary infections
   -repro issues: estrus cycle (painful ovulation, vaginitis, endometritis, granuloma cell ovarian tumors)
   -environmental stimuli

Question 16

describe instrumental aggression

Answer 16

1. negative or positive reinforcement of aggressive behaviors
   -rearing resulting in dismount
   -biting at equipment while in crossties resulting in attention or going back to stall
   -bite threat resulting in person moving away

Question 17

describe how to treat resource guarding

Answer 17

1. in pasture-fed horses
   -increase number of feeders per horse
   -place feeders on ground
   -increase distance between feeders (min 1.5 meters)
2. stall-fed horses:
   -human approach only if horse has ears forward or neutral
   -gradual desensitization with small feed portions

Question 18

describe fear induced aggression

Answer 18

postures consistent with fear due to
1. unable to escape
2. exposure to novelty
3. handling

treat with:
1. desensitization
2. positive reinforcement training
3. counter-conditioning

Question 19

describe redirected aggression

Answer 19

horses frustrated, agitated, frightened, of target stimulus redirect aggression toward nearby person or horse

ex. horse at shows exposed to stressful stimuli that bite owner

Question 20

why should we reduce stress for veterinary visits? (4)

Answer 20

1. reduce injuries to humans and animals
2. improve accuracy of examination and laboratory results
3. improve health and wellbeing of patients
4. earn clients’ trust and commitment

Question 21

describe the freeze response in horses

Answer 21

1. freeze:
   -alert vigilance
   -decreased interaction
   -tachycardia
   -teeth grinding
   -eyes closed
   -interpreted as compliance!! but stressed!!

Question 22

describe signs of stress

Answer 22

1. eyes:
   -dilated pupils
   -sclera visible
   -arched or wrinkled upper lids
2. ears:
   -very alert, forward
   -pinned back
3. mouth:
   -pointed chin
   -tense lips
   -licking, chewing motion
4. nostrils:
   -wrinkles above nostrils
   -movement with breaths

Question 23

describe sensory consideratons for horses

Answer 23

1. sight:
   -slower visual accommodation: light to dark or vice versa is hard
   -limited color spectrum
   -limited depth perception
   -use blue and yellow equipment and allow time for horse to adjust to light and explore new equipment
2. sounds:
   -loud sudden noises = harsh
   -distress calls
   -use ear puffs, nets, plugs, or muffs, avoid loud machinery, sound machine or fan to block out other noises, species-specific music
3. smells:
   -pheremones
   -chemical
   -lavender oil, confidence EQ
4. taste:
   -preferred taste
   -hunger
5. tactile:
   -footing
   -touch
   -continuous contact when handling, give fidgety horse and toy to hold
6. social:
   -removal from herd
   -new animals
   -bring herd mate or bonded animal to appointment

Question 24

describe the appropriate flow of examinations of horses

Answer 24

1. familiar person should catch and halter horse
2. approach from side
3. touch shoulder or withers first
4. allow patient to sniff
5. keep hand on patient as you move

Question 25

describe protected contact and advantages

Answer 25

1. safety barriers, stall doors, fences, stocks
2. patient can opt out of procedure

Question 26

describe equipment considerations for horses

Answer 26

1. reduce needle size
2. local anesthetics
   -lidocaine gel: nostrils, rectum
   -nerve blocks: skin and eye procedures
3. quiet buckets:
   -rubber handles and bucket bottoms
   -wrap metals with vet wrap
4. hoof testers with rubber handles

Question 27

describe use of twitches

Answer 27

1. emergencies only
2. nose or neck, never ear twitch
3. 5-10 min maximum; set timer!

Question 28

describe use of pre-visit medications

Answer 28

1. extra-label
2. performance horse restrictions: withdrawal times
3. safety:
   -ataxia during trailering
   -age
   -health
4. address pain:
   -anti-inflam unless contraindicated (lameness exam)
5. use:
   -detomidine gel: alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, takes 30-40 min to effect
   -buprenorphne: opioid in injectable form, sublingual, takes 45-60 min to effect
   -trazodone: 1 hour to effect
   -gabapentin: poor bioavailability
   -benzodiazepines: not always reliable
   -acepromazine: no anxiolysis
6. test doses ahead of time:
   -avoid paradoxical reactions
   -inadequate dose
   -oversedation
   -time to effect
   -duration
7. supplements:
   -confidence EQ: synthetic equine maternal pheremone gel
   -zylkene: alpha-cazosepine powder
   -tryptophan does nothing!

Question 29

describe cooperative care

Answer 29

training animal to participate in husbandry and veterinary practices in positive manner
-move at horse’s pace
-positive reinforcement
-use clicker or tongue click to bridge or mark

Question 30

describe the process of cooperative care

Answer 30

1. foundation behavior:
   -standing in neutral position; this is default position
2. targeting:
   -nose, hoof, body part
3. stationing on object
   -leg lifting or placing foot

Question 31

describe uses of cooperative care

Answer 31

1. venipuncture
2. intramuscular injections
3. taking oral meds
4. rectal thermometer
5. oral or ocular medication

AKA anything